Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), addressed journalists in Geneva, highlighting a prevailing atmosphere of fear in Venezuela. She urged the government to adhere to international human rights laws and to act transparently, advocating for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing political disputes.
This warning is the latest in a series of alerts from the UN, independent rights experts, and investigators appointed by the Human Rights Council regarding the harsh crackdown on dissent in the South American nation. Shamdasani emphasized that individuals are being detained for exercising their political rights, including freedom of expression and assembly. Her comments came in the wake of authorities announcing the detention of Edmundo Gonzalez.
Gonzalez’s campaign against President Nicolas Maduro was unsuccessful, with Maduro declared the winner of the controversial July election, a result contested by opposition supporters who have raised concerns about the lack of transparent voting data from official sources.
Reports indicate that Gonzalez’s arrest was sparked by the release of detailed polling data from his campaign, suggesting he had won the election. He faces multiple charges, including document falsification.
While the OHCHR lacks a physical presence in Venezuela, Shamdasani noted ongoing communication and engagement with Caracas authorities amid street protests and escalating online dissent following the election results that reinstated Maduro.
Shamdasani reiterated the need for all parties to resolve electoral conflicts through peaceful dialogue and emphasized the importance of protecting the human rights of all individuals, irrespective of their political affiliations.
The Human Rights Council’s Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela described the response to election protests as met with severe state-sponsored repression, creating a climate of fear. The Mission reported 23 fatalities, mainly from gunfire, during protests between late July and early August, with a significant number of victims under the age of 30.
Adding to these concerns, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk remarked that over 2,400 individuals have been detained in Venezuela since the Presidential elections on July 29. He highlighted that it is alarming that many face charges for incitement or under counterterrorism laws, asserting that criminal law should not be misused to infringe upon the liberties of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.